Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know eBook

when all at once the window opened, and the fairy
Violent, mounted on the dragon’s back, rushed
into the tower. My beloved prince thought of
nothing but how to defend me from their fury; for I
had had time to relate to him my story, previous to
this cruel interruption; but their numbers overpowered
him, and the fairy Violent had the barbarity to command
the dragon to devour my prince before my eyes.
In my despair, I would have thrown myself also into
the mouth of the horrible monster, but this they took
care to prevent, saying my life should be preserved
for greater punishment. The fairy then touched
me with her wand, and I instantly became a white cat.
She next conducted me to this palace, which belonged
to my father, and gave me a train of cats for my attendants,
together with the twelve hands which waited on your
highness. She then informed me of my birth, and
the death of my parents, and pronounced upon me what
she imagined the greatest of maledictions: That
I should not be restored to my natural figure till
a young prince, the perfect resemblance of him I had
lost, should cut off my head and tail. You are
that perfect resemblance; and, accordingly, you have
ended the enchantment. I need not add, that I
already love you more than my life. Let us therefore
hasten to the palace of the king your father, and
obtain his approbation to our marriage.”

The prince and princess accordingly set out side by
side, in a car of still greater splendour than before,
and reached the palace just as the two brothers had
arrived with two beautiful princesses. The king,
hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding
what he had required, again began to think of some
new expedient to delay the time of his resigning his
crown; but when the whole court were with the king
assembled to pass judgment, the princess who accompanied
the youngest, perceiving his thoughts by his countenance,
stepped majestically forward, and thus addressed him:
“What pity that your majesty, who is so capable
of governing, should think of resigning the crown!
I am fortunate enough to have six kingdoms in my possession;
permit me to bestow one on each of the eldest princes,
and to enjoy the remaining four in the society of
the youngest. And may it please your majesty to
keep your own kingdom, and make no decision concerning
the beauty of three princesses, who, without such
a proof of your majesty’s preference, will no
doubt live happily together!” The air resounded
with the applauses of the assembly. The young
prince and princess embraced the king, and next their
brothers and sisters; the three weddings immediately
took place; and the kingdoms were divided as the princess
had proposed.

CHAPTER IX

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of
whom was considered very silly, and everybody used
to mock him and make fun of him. The eldest son
wanted to go and cut wood in the forest, and before
he left home his mother prepared beautiful pancakes
and a bottle of wine for him to take with him, so
that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst.